Chapter 15

Diane's POV

My eyes fluttered open, and a pungent mix of herbs and medicine instantly churned my stomach. The room was dimly lit, and there was something eerily unfamiliar about it—something that made my skin crawl.

I turned my head slowly, trying to figure out where I was, but nothing looked familiar. It didn’t resemble any hospital from my pack. No… this place felt more like a witch’s den—small, quiet, and unsettling.

The bed beneath me creaked faintly. It was made of bamboo, crudely pieced together, with only a thin layer of foam offering any comfort.

In the far corner, a small table held a lamp which was the only illuminating source in the room alongside the small window. Beneath them were pots, with gentle steam wafting from their lids.

Apart from the medicinal scent that irked me, the burning ache around my wrist and head also made me so uncomfortable.

Where am I? My mind tried to reach for answers, but everything was foggy. Worse still, I couldn’t feel my wolf. It was like she had vanished—either asleep or… gone.

Panic swelled in my chest.

I just couldn't understand anything at the moment, but all I knew was that something was wrong with me.

My eyes lowered to my freshly bandaged hand, and I wondered what had happened to me. Did I break a bone or was I cut?

I tried to sit up, and it was like my head was slammed into a concrete wall as a sharp, throbbing pain exploded inside my skull, so unbearable that I was forced to collapse back on the bed.

Why are the wounds not healing already? As a werewolf, I should have that ability to recover quickly, especially as a hunter.

It just seemed like I had been turned into a mere fragile human with no special abilities in me.

Just then, the door creaked open, and fear prickled down my spine. I turned my head slowly, my breath catching.

An old woman shuffled in, leaning heavily on a staff. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot, her face deeply lined with wrinkles, her back hunched as though the years had been cruel to her.

As she neared, her scent filled the air—vampire.

Her vampire scent oozed through and hit my nostrils, forcing my eyes to widen as panic rushed through me, hitting me with a cruel reality.

Just like a lightening bolt, everything came back.

I remembered it all.

The battle. The intense fight between my people and the vampires.

How I sacrificed my special blood to regain his strength and save him from getting killed.

Out of love, I did that.

I remember passing out, unconscious with no idea what happened next or how they were able to cross the border, but I could see they succeeded because that was the only reason I was alive.

"So… I’m in the vampire kingdom, right?" I muttered, watching the old woman’s cold, expressionless face.

She scrutinized me, her eyes examining every inch of me as if she was doing a body check-up with her intense gaze. "I think you're strong enough to meet the king now. It’s time for your prosecution."

My stomach dropped. Prosecution? What crime did I commit?

My brows arched, confusion and shock twisting inside of me.

"Please, when can I see Leo? Where is..".

Smack!

Her palm cracked against my cheek so hard it numbed my entire face. I gasped, stunned, my hand flying to the sting.

"Don’t you dare speak the prince’s name like that. Are you mad?" she growled, her eyes burning with hatred and repulsion.

I stared at her, eyes watering. How could someone so frail hit that hard?

Wait… Prince? My thoughts spiraled. Leo is a prince?

"Is he the vampire king’s son?" I whispered, stunned.

"Stop acting ignorant like you aren't aware. I wonder how he was able to get you pregnant. Disgusting!" She spat and shook her head.

"Follow me." She added in a commanding tone before making her way out while I obeyed without any other word, too dazed to argue further.

It was so hard to believe I had been mingling with the vampire prince all this while. Of all people! How?

A car was waiting for us outside, and as she entered the back seat, I reached for the other door and tried to open it, but it was locked.

"Bitch, get in the trunk!" One of the men inside snarled as he stepped out of the car and dragged me impatiently.

"Why are you all treating me like..."

Thump!

I couldn't finish talking before I was stuffed in and the trunk door shut.

Lying in there, I could only wonder what kind of life awaited me as a hated soul. Everyone I have met since I opened my eyes was harsh towards me.

I might have just made the worst mistake of falling for Leo. Vampires are our enemies, and it was my fault not to believe our Alpha, who warned us about them.

Leo had brought me into their territory, and it doesn't look good. My life was about to become something worse than I ever imagined.

Finally, the car came to a halt, and I was dragged out, everything done harshly, and their expressions filled with detest.

The castle gate was opened, and I was led in with the two men holding my hands. All I wanted was to see Leo because I believed in him. I had lost all my powers to save him, to protect him from getting captured.

Every vampire's eyes peered coldly at me with a glint of hatred as I passed through the walkway, heading to the building with the men that held me firmly as though I would run away at the slightest chance.

Are all these people unaware that I saved their prince? I betrayed my people to protect him, and here I was being treated like a criminal, like an enemy that should be put to death.

As we reached the entrance of the main building, I was suddenly blindfolded. Shackles were clamped tightly around my wrists and ankles.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as humiliation and grief overwhelmed me. “Why are you doing this? The prince wouldn’t want to see me like this—”

“The prince gave the order himself,” one of the men said sharply.

A cold chill ran down my spine, a knot twisting in my gut as his words echoed in my head.

It can't be.

Leo can't betray me!

"No, he can't treat me like this." I murmured as my chest tightened in despair.